Lionel Messi's arm injury casts shadow as Barcelona beat Sevilla

21/10/2018

Barcelona moved back to the top of the La Liga table with their 4-2 win over Sevilla on Saturday night, but saw Lionel Messi exit early with a right arm injury.

The hosts got off to a fast start at Camp Nou, with Phillipe Coutinho scoring in the second minute.

Messi doubled Barcelona's lead in the 12th minute, but disaster struck five minutes later when he landed awkwardly on his right arm after getting wrapped up with Sevilla midfielder Franco Vazquez.

Writhing in pain on the field, Messi was tended to by team trainers before being substituted off for Ousmane Dembele.

The injury was diagnosed as fracture in the radial bone of his right arm, meaning the Barcelona captain will miss a Champions League match against Inter Milan on Wednesday and next Sunday's Clasico against Real Madrid.

The defending La Liga champions looked a bit disoriented following the exit of their captain, nursing the lead into the break.

Barcelona regained their poise for the second half, and added a third goal when Luis Suarez converted a penalty in the 63rd minute.

Pablo Sarabia finally broke Sevilla through with a goal in the 79th minute with a shot that deflected off Barcelona defender Clement Lenglet.

Ivan Rakitic scored the home side's final goal against his former club in the 88th minute with a first-time volley, only to have Luis Muriel answer for Sevilla in the 91st minute.

Sevilla failed to capitalise on a weekend of slip-ups for La Liga's chasing pack when they were held to a goalless draw away to Real Sociedad on Sunday, opening up a four-point gap behind leaders and champions Barcelona.

Real Madrid ended their long wait for a La Liga victory by beating Real Valladolid 2-0 on Saturday with two late goals in interim coach Santiago Solari's first home game in charge of the struggling European champions.

Sevilla failed to capitalise on a weekend of slip-ups for La Liga's chasing pack when they were held to a goalless draw away to Real Sociedad on Sunday, opening up a four-point gap behind leaders and champions Barcelona.

Real Madrid ended their long wait for a La Liga victory by beating Real Valladolid 2-0 on Saturday with two late goals in interim coach Santiago Solari's first home game in charge of the struggling European champions.